What:Winterruption is the place to be this weekend for entertainment and cultural flair. This is particularly true if you’ve got kids in tow, since there’s a full roster of kids events that includes some great shows and a whole range of fun activities, all for free. Highlights include:

Join artist Beth Lee to learn how to create your own mask. All materials will be supplied.

Get your face painted – Sat & Sun, Feb 23 & 24, 10:30am – 4:30pm

Join in the Parade! – Saturday, Feb 23, 1:45pm

Be part of the spectacle with your hand-made mask or fresh face paint as you parade through Granville Island alongside Mortal Coil stiltwalkers and the 8-piece New Orleans-inspired The Brotherhood of Brass Band. The parade starts at Kids Zone & finishes in Railspur Alley.

In addition to the events at Kids Zone during Winterruption, you should also check out:

Kids can paint or print a design on their own T-shirt at Opus Framing and Art Supplies (map). You’ll get to experiment with textile pint, ink and fabric stamps. Bring your own T-shirt! It’s free, but you need to register (drop in to Opus Art Supplies or call 604-736-7028).

Free Puppet Show of Peter and the Wolf at ArtStarts

What: ArtStarts Free Weekend Workshops are nothing short of a brilliant opportunity to take your kids to award-winning shows without spending a dime. This month you can enjoy Peter and the Wolf as told by the master puppeteers of Figura Theatre. This 45-minute long show is probably suited to kids who a bit older than the usual “under 5” crowd, but the puppets might just be fascinating enough to hold the attention of pre-schoolers. They sure look cool to me.

Free Puppet and Clown Show at Trout Lake (ages 3+)

What: Trout Lake is an easy stop for East Van families, and this is a great free event for mature “under 5s” or older kids. Maggie Winston of Lost & Found Puppet Co will perform “Just Enough”, a great story about bringing new life to cherished objects by creating something new. At the moment, a different version of this story, entitled Something From Nothing, is Monita’s favourite book. I’ve read it literally thrice daily for the past two weeks. You might have caught this performance of “Just Enough” at the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival (pictured) but if not, here’s your chance. Please pre-register by calling 604-257-6955.

Family Art Fun, ages 2 – 8 at Roundhouse

What:Make it Mondays! drop-in is back this month. Families and kids aged 2 – 8 are invited to experiment and create art together. This program offers different fun activities to inspire you and give you the opportunity to create something outside of the box of crayons. All they ask is a $2 donation to cover costs. Head to Room A at the Roundhouse and bring an open mind. (Make it Mondays! is also running on March 18 if you miss this one!)

Free Family-friendly Concert at Trout Lake

What: This is part of the “Music on the Bow” concert series, a family-friendly set of free concerts that feature many different types of music. While this one is a bit late in the evening for the Under 5 crowd, it’s worth a mention because it’s tough to get out to see live music as a parent. If you’re missing hearing some cool swing / jazz numbers, you can check out Los Juevos Rancheros at Trout Lake in the main part of the Community Centre.